Doris Sue Hester

James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel Doris Sue Swinford Hester, 80 Sue was the daughter of John Wesley Swinford and Maggie Elizabeth Jones Swinford. She was born in Florence, Alabama October 1st, 1930. Formally a resident of Tallahassee, Sue called Marianna her home since 2006. She was preceded in death by her brother William McKinley Swinford, and son John Buckner "Bucky" Hester. Sue left this life on March 17, 2011 at the Marianna Health & Rehabilitation Center. Sue lived a life full of music as an accomplished pianist and organist playing for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra at 16 and graduated from Ward Belmont and Peabody Conservatory of Music in Nashville, TN . Living her adult life as a military wife, Sue shared her talents playing at numerous Air Force bases and churches in Marianna, Tallahassee, and Quincy, settling down in Tallahassee in the early 1970s. Sue was a care giver and humanitarian in the greatest sense. She was instrumental in the establishment of Hospice in the state of Florida and in the writing of the respective legislation. Sue served on the original Board of Directors of Big Bend Hospice Tallahassee. To this day, she is known to many as "Mrs Sue Hospice". Sue retired from the Dept. of Elder Affairs in 1998. Sue will always be remembered for her passion for music, her love for her family and friends, and her compassion for everyone around her. She is survived by her children Debbie Cloud and husband Larry of Marianna, David Hester of Tallahassee, Michael Hester of Tallahassee, Anne Elizabeth Mathis and Eddie B. of Marianna, and Melanie Hester of Tallahassee; grandchildren Zack Cloud of New York City, Jeremy Cloud and wife Veda of Atlanta, Amelia Sue "Millie" Mathis of Tallahassee, Emilyanne and Elizabeth Mathis of Marianna, and Austin Hester of Tallahassee; and close friend and caretaker Linda Johnston of Marianna. Sue and her family were blessed to have such wonderful care givers at the Marianna Health & Rehabilitation Center and the Parishioners at St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Marianna. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. CDT Monday, March 21, 2011 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Marianna with Father Norman Bray officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. EDT in Tallahassee at Culley's Meadow Wood Memorial Park, 700 Timberlane Road. James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel will direct. The family will receive friends Sunday, March 20, 2011 from 3-5 p.m. CDT at James & Sikes Maddox Chapel, Marianna. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be sent to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center, Tallahassee, FL 32308 or Covenant Hospice, 4215 Kelson Ave. Suite E. Marianna, 32446.